In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Richard Satchwell, aged 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who was found dead in a shallow grave beneath their Cork home in October 2023. The jury heard that Satchwell told a detective in 2015 he believed his wife was still alive, and that he had previously attempted suicide because of her violence. He also claimed that on the night of her disappearance, March 19, 2017, she tried to stab him with a chisel, and that he had held her weight with a belt before she died. Satchwell's statements were taken under an enhanced cognitive interview, a witness‑led technique used by Gardaí. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women.
Richard Satchwell, 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife Tina Satchwell, who disappeared on 20 March 2017. In the Central Criminal Court opening, the State counsel presented evidence that Satchwell told Gardaí he had kept Tina's body in a freezer in the shed for two days before burying her beneath the stairs of their Youghal home. He claimed that during an alleged attack, he had used a belt around her neck to protect himself as she fell limp and died. Gardaí had earlier recorded Satchwell's statements about Tina's alleged violent outbursts and her refusal to take antidepressants. A search of the house on 10 October 2023 uncovered decomposed remains wrapped in black sheeting in a three‑foot grave, later identified as Tina. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last six weeks.
In a sentencing hearing on 10 April 2025, Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy, aged 52, delivered a victim‑impact statement after being repeatedly stabbed by a 17‑year‑old boy on 15 August 2024 at Renmore Barracks, Galway. Murphy, who has served as a chaplain for 11 years, said he forgave the attacker and urged him to learn from his mistake and return to society as a "wholesome, happy and loving person". The boy, who was 16 at the time of the attack and whose identity is withheld, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He was arrested on suspicion of assault causing harm and was remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending sentencing on 29 April 2025. The court heard the boy had been radicalised online, possessed a hunting knife, and had expressed anger over the Defence Forces' work in Mali. The hearing ended with the chaplain and the boy embracing in the courtroom.
Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, was ordered to pay former head of operations Mark Langham €125,000 for unfair dismissal. The company claimed it had reduced operational needs in Ireland after renewing a €23 million deal to rent its Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre, and cited financial considerations. Langham said the real reason was a personality clash with Sonia Kajani, the founder's daughter, and that the redundancy process was a "cloak" for his removal. The tribunal found no evidence that the company was in a financial position to justify the redundancy and that the dismissal breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The award was the first six‑figure sum granted by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2025. The case remains at the unfair dismissal stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Annette Ryan, a former catering supervisor at Waterford Hospital, was summarily dismissed in September 2023 after a WRC investigation found gross misconduct. She claimed that her ex‑boss, Marcin Skrzypczak, orchestrated bullying complaints that painted her as a racist, including a fabricated allegation that she told a junior colleague "You're not Irish, you're black." Ryan said she had worked with colleagues from Nigeria, China and elsewhere for 13 years and denied the accusations. She alleged that Skrzypczak had suspended her without warning, confiscated her access cards, and prevented her from speaking to staff. The WRC hearing revealed that four junior catering staff had lodged formal complaints in July 2023, leading to her suspension and eventual dismissal. Ryan's appeal was upheld by the WRC in December 2023, and she was offered no mitigating explanations during the disciplinary process. She has since sought compensation for the period she was out of work, having found a new job in March 2024.
A manager at a workwear and safety supplier, Louise O'Connor, has won €10,025 in compensation after being dismissed following her reporting of safety issues at the company's warehouse. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that her dismissal was an 'operative reason' for her reporting a fall on a damaged floor. O'Connor joined the firm in February 2024 as a retail manager with 28 years of experience in the industry. She reported a fall in April 2024, which she and a colleague addressed by taping the hole and placing a warning sign. Despite this, the company did not fix the unsafe floor. O'Connor was dismissed in May 2024, with the employer citing 'inadequate performance and poor attitude' as the reason. The WRC found that the company breached the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005, and concluded that the fall and its reporting were key factors in her dismissal.
Michael Molloy, a 25‑year‑old architecture student from Gorey, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in a laneway on the night of 1 November 2021. The victim, who had previously known Molloy from school, was forced into sexual activity after he walked her home from a pub. She resisted, but Molloy forced her against a wall, digitally penetrated her, and orally raped her. The court found him guilty on counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault. Molloy maintained his innocence, claiming the acts were consensual. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years with the final year suspended, and will remain under probation supervision for three years. The victim described lasting psychological effects and a loss of confidence following the assault.
Mark Langham, a former senior executive earning €160,000 a year at Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, has filed a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 claiming he was made redundant as head of operations in Ireland in June 2023. Langham alleges the redundancy was due to a "personality clash" with Sonia Kajani, the daughter of the parent firm's founder. The WRC was told that the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport, one of JMK's four Irish hotels, had been contracted to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers, a contract worth €20‑23 million a year.
Dean Kerrie, aged 23, withdrew his appeal against a manslaughter conviction after being found guilty of killing Jack Power, 25, during an intruder incident at Kerrie's home in Dunmore East, Waterford, on 26 July 2018. Kerrie had been tried twice for murder; the first jury could not reach a verdict, and the second jury convicted him of manslaughter. In the trial, Kerrie claimed he stabbed Power after the intruder attacked his mother, while Power's friend testified that Kerrie had a knife when Power was leaving the house. The judge noted uncertainty about the knife's provenance and imposed a four‑year, six‑month sentence, suspending the final year. Kerrie had pleaded not guilty to murder but accepted the manslaughter conviction and has now withdrawn his appeal at the Court of Appeal.
In a January 2025 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted that limited psychiatric services in Ireland are causing additional trauma to families, citing the case of Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, who is charged with the murder of her six‑year‑old son Matthew. The judge noted that Healy's lawyers have spent months attempting to secure a psychiatrist's assessment, but have been unsuccessful due to shortages and delays. He described the case as "very sensitive" and stressed that prolonged waiting for psychiatric reports exacerbates trauma. McDermott pointed out that psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital are often unavailable because of their workload, and that low fees offered by the Department of Justice deter them from taking on cases. Consequently, lawyers sometimes seek psychiatrists abroad, such as in the UK, to obtain the necessary reports. The judge's remarks underscore the systemic limitations in the state's psychiatric services for complex criminal cases.
The family of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, murdered on 2 November 2022 in Tallow, Co. Waterford, delivered an emotional victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court during the sentencing of Maurice Boland. They urged Irish society to consider who should be role models for young men, citing the three young men who helped Cian as examples of kindness and self‑lessness. The family described Cian as shy, kind, and principled, and expressed profound grief over his loss. They condemned the attacker's boast that he had punched Cian "like Conor McGregor in the UFC" and highlighted the senseless violence that ended a promising life. Boland, 37, was found guilty of murder and received the mandatory life sentence, to commence after the expiry of his earlier assault conviction. The statement underscored the lasting trauma endured by the Gallagher family. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
After two trials, Maurice Boland, 37, was found guilty of murder for the death of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher. The attack occurred on 2 November 2022, with Gallagher dying eight days later. Boland had claimed he had punched Gallagher "like Conor McGregor in the UFC" and later lied to Gardaí about the victim's alleged initial swing. CCTV showed Boland pursuing Gallagher down the street, delivering a "haymaker" that caused Gallagher to fall and hit his head. The prosecution argued that Boland intended to cause serious injury, while the defence maintained no intent to kill. The jury, after five hours and eleven minutes, reached a unanimous verdict of murder. Boland will be sentenced to life imprisonment on 16 December, with the victim's family invited to speak. The case was presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, who thanked the jury and exempted them from further service for five years. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State presented Maurice Boland (37) as a drunken aggressor who pursued and struck Cian Gallagher (26) after Gallagher left a pub in Tallow. Prosecutor Bernard Condon SC argued that Boland's intent was to inflict serious injury, citing Boland's remarks about wanting to "be like Conor McGregor" and his aggressive behaviour earlier that evening. He described the incident as a pursuit rather than a fight, noting that Gallagher was "set upon" and knocked down by a "killer punch" that caused him to hit his head. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Boland was guilty of unlawful killing, not murder, because there was no evidence of intent to kill or cause serious harm. The judge instructed the jury that a verdict of murder requires proof of intent to kill or serious injury, and the jury will deliberate tomorrow. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, jurors were instructed to disregard any personal impressions of Conor McGregor after the accused, Maurice Boland, claimed he had struck a 26‑year‑old man "like the mixed martial arts star" during an altercation. Boland, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Cian Gallagher, who died eight days after being punched on November 2‑3, 2022. The State's case, presented by Bernard Condon SC, outlined that Gallagher was walking home from a night of drinking when Boland, who had been drinking earlier that evening, approached and punched him. CCTV footage would show the encounter, including the punch that caused fatal injuries. Condon urged the jury to focus on Boland's intent and the manner of the strike, rather than the comparison to McGregor, and to weigh any such remarks at their discretion.
A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon for the trial of Maurice Boland, 37, of Tallow, Waterford. Boland, who admits killing but denies murder, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, on 10 November 2022. The trial will start Wednesday morning and is expected to last no more than two weeks.
Cesar Fernandes Borges Filho, 34, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to seven counts of deception. The charges related to dishonestly inducing individuals to take out purported motor insurance policies at an unknown location in the State during 2019 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Filho targeted members of the Brazilian community who were unfamiliar with the Irish insurance system, collecting approximately €12,500 for policies that were not valid. The judge stated that Filho had taken advantage of a situation, leaving trusting people at a loss. In passing sentence, Judge Nolan acknowledged excellent mitigation due to Filho's cooperation with gardaí and his guilty pleas, noting he was unlikely to reoffend. The court imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspending the final year on specific conditions. These conditions require that Filho's motorbike be sold and the proceeds divided among his victims to provide compensation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it had no jurisdiction to consider John Malone's complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000 that he was denied entry to Silverstream Priory because he mentioned his father was a Traveller. Malone, aged 53, claimed he had been invited to stay at the monastery's guest house in July 2022 and offered a place, but that the prior's attitude changed after he disclosed his Traveller heritage. An internal email from the prior expressed doubts about Malone, and the master of novices later stated that Malone's conduct at a retreat made it "not advisable" for him to join, citing his age and lack of engagement. The WRC found the complaint "not well founded" and dismissed it, noting it had no authority to adjudicate the matter. The case remains unresolved.
In a re‑sentencing hearing, the Court of Appeal found that the Circuit Court had been misinformed about the maximum penalty for Lee Hutchinson, a 41‑year‑old former teacher from Coxtown West, Dunmore East, Waterford. Hutchinson had carried out a four‑year poison‑pen campaign against three Gardaí, sending anonymous handwritten letters with spurious allegations of misconduct, corruption and sexual impropriety to the officers, their families and superiors. The letters were forwarded to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, which deemed the claims unfounded. Hutchinson's original six‑year sentence, with the final year suspended, was quashed because the judge had been told the maximum was ten years instead of the correct seven. The Court of Appeal imposed a new sentence of seven years, with the final two years suspended, to be served consecutively for the three counts of harassment.
In a Waterford Central Criminal Court trial, a 34‑year‑old man was convicted of 17 counts of sexual assault against his young cousin over a four‑year period from April 2010. The abuse occurred in the family home and a nearby wooden area, with the victim, who was about ten when first abused, living under the care of the defendant's mother. Incidents happened several times a month, usually in the parents' room, and ceased after an alleged apology by the defendant before the victim entered secondary school in 2014, a claim denied by both parties. The victim, now 23, testified that the abuse left her with loneliness, pain and depression. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noting the gross breach of trust and the victim's vulnerability, imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to 11 years with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The judge highlighted the defendant's lack of prior convictions and work record as mitigating factors.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 9 October 2024, Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the appeal of 31‑year‑old Richard Walsh, a boxer from Congress Villas, Dungarvan, who had been convicted of assault causing harm for striking a woman with an iron bar at Kilrush Park on 30 November 2020. The appeal centred on two grounds: that the mobile‑phone footage used at trial had been edited, and that the trial judge had misdirected the jury on self‑defence. Mr Justice Edwards found the footage to be authentic, not hearsay, and that no evidence suggested manipulation. He also held that the judge's instructions on self‑defence were adequate and that the jury's decision was sound. Consequently, the appeal was rejected, leaving the original conviction and sentence of two and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended, in place. The court's judgment was delivered in the Court of Appeal, Waterford.
A 21‑year‑old man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford for pleading guilty to six counts of sexual assault against his younger sisters. The offences began in 2010 when the victims were eight to ten years old and continued until the older sister was ten. The court heard that the man controlled and sexually abused the sisters while they visited their father's home, forcing them to comply and threatening them not to tell anyone. The older sister, now 17, described the abuse as having torn her family apart and left her with nightmares and ongoing therapy. The younger sister, now 14, said she feared further harm and had lost focus at school. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, imposed a five‑year sentence with two and a half years suspended, back‑dated to June 17, and placed the defendant on the sex offenders register for five years.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Abdullah Aljaber, a former general operative at Dawn Meats in Waterford, was awarded €15,000 for discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. Aljaber claimed the company dismissed him because of a back injury and failed to provide reasonable accommodation for his disability. He alleged that during the winter of 2020, Covid‑19 pressure led to neglected hygiene and safety procedures, including the handling of burgers that fell to the floor and were allegedly put back on the line. Dawn Meats representatives, including a former health and safety manager, refuted these claims, stating that fallen patties were placed in red trays for disposal and that no such practice occurred. The tribunal accepted evidence that Aljaber's dismissal in July 2021 was linked to his back injury and that the company had not examined reasonable accommodations, leading to the compensation award.
The Court of Appeal increased the 46‑year‑old child rapist's sentence from 11 to 16 years after rejecting his appeal. He abused a girl aged eight to eleven, tying her to a bed, holding a knife to her throat and threatening her before raping her. The judge noted that this single offence alone warranted a headline sentence at the top end of the mid‑range, and that the original 13½‑year headline was too low. The appeal was dismissed, and the court quashed the original sentence, resentencing the offender to 16 years with the final six months suspended. The conviction remains for eight counts of rape, nine of anal rape, eight of oral rape and nine of sexual assault, with a two‑year post‑release supervision period retained. The victim, whose identity is protected, suffered lasting mental health effects and remains on medication for anxiety and sleep. The unnamed 46-year-old was acquitted.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 4 July 2024, the appeal of Garrett Smith, 35, who was convicted of manslaughter for stamping to death Edward Liam O'Sullivan in his own home, was dismissed. Smith had sought to reduce his 13.5‑year sentence, arguing it was too harsh, but the three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found no merit in his appeal. Edwards reaffirmed the jury's decision to convict of manslaughter rather than murder, citing Smith's intoxication and the "sheer viciousness and brutality" of the attack. He rejected claims that the trial judge had failed to consider mitigating factors, noting the original headline sentence of 16 years was reduced to 14.5 years with 12 months suspended. The decision was met with brief applause from the victim's family before Smith was escorted back to prison.
Paul Olunaike, a 34‑year‑old professional dancer and father of four, pleaded guilty to possessing €13,738 as proceeds of crime in his bank account on 25 August 2020. He had used €13,000 of laundered money to buy a €609 juicer, a €404.99 food processor and an oil extractor machine. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after noting his significant shame and remorse, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month sentence. Olunaike transferred €4,000 of the laundered money to his mother and gave €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda as a contribution toward losses. He has no further contact with Gardaí since the incident, and the court described him as a hardworking man and a father with many responsibilities. The juicer and food processor were to be donated to a local charity or refuge.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11½ years' imprisonment for raping his 12‑year‑old stepdaughter on four occasions in 2014. The abuse occurred in the family home in the south‑east of the country, with the victim being in her bed on three occasions and on the floor of a sibling's room on one occasion. After the second incident she told her mother, but the stepfather continued to assault her, including on Christmas Eve. He put his hand over her mouth, bit her breasts and pulled her hair, leaving clumps on her pillow. A jury found him guilty of three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape and one count of sexual assault. He denies the abuse and intends to appeal. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of 13½ years to 11½ years, backdated to his March 2024 arrest. The court noted the victim's vulnerability and the brutality of the offences.
Broadcaster Paul Byrne settled his High Court action against Virgin Media Television after mediation. The case, which involved Byrne's claim that Virgin Media's internal disciplinary proceedings were flawed, was struck out by the court. Byrne, who had been suspended following a February 9 report about a boy's death in County Waterford, alleged that the investigation's claim he had verified was false and that the disciplinary process could lead to dismissal for alleged gross misconduct. He denied wrongdoing, said the process was punitive and breached his contractual rights, and sought orders to lift his suspension and prevent replacement. Virgin Media rejected his claims, stating the alleged breach was "serious in nature" and that steps were needed to avoid a repeat. The settlement terms remain confidential. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey welcomed the resolution. Mr Byrne was not present at the hearing.
Richard Walsh, of Congress Villas, Dungarvan, Waterford, appealed his jury conviction for assault causing harm at Kilrush Park, Dungarvan, on November 30, 2020. He was originally sentenced by Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Courthouse to two and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the trial judge incorrectly applied an objective standard to the reasonableness of force, contending that a subjective test regarding Walsh's honest belief in self-defence was required. Walsh alleged that after an organised fight, the victim threw an iron bar at his head, prompting him to push her in anticipation of further violence. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that Walsh was armed with the bar, was a stronger adult male, and had an opportunity to retreat. The judge described the incident as occurring after the victim, a supporter of one of the fighters, was "mouthing off" and throwing the bar, which Walsh picked up before advancing on her. Defence counsel also raised concerns about incomplete mobile phone footage and the inability to verify the recorder's identity or potential editing. State counsel Conor O'Doherty BL countered that the jury was properly directed to consider both subjective context and objective necessity, highlighting the significant size disparity between the boxer and the victim. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement in the matter.
Paul Dundon, 39, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and three months for biting part of Dean Kelly's ear off during a vicious fight outside a Waterford nightclub on 27 June 2018. The Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision to suspend the entire sentence, noting Dundon's nine prior convictions and a later fully suspended sentence for a separate incident. The appeal argued the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the permanent disfigurement of Kelly's ear and Dundon's late guilty plea. The court found the judge had correctly weighed mitigation factors such as Dundon's remorse, apology letter, fatherhood, good work history, low reoffending risk and counselling attendance. The appeal was dismissed, with the court affirming the suspended sentence was not unduly lenient despite the brutal nature of the assault.
Gavin Ryan, convicted of shooting Clifford Power twice in the chest in Gracedieu, Waterford, in December 2019, has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Ryan, who pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, assault causing serious harm, possession of ammunition, and possession of amphetamines with intent to sell or supply, was found guilty on all four counts by a jury. On November 25, 2021, Judge Eugene O'Kelly sentenced him to 13.5 years in prison, with the final two years suspended. Ryan's legal team argues that a garda entered his residence without a warrant, breaching his constitutional rights, and that evidence obtained from this entry was inadmissible. They contend the garda had no bona fide belief that anyone was at risk. The State's counsel countered that the entry was lawful and proportionate, as gardaí were conducting door-to-door inquiries for a fleeing armed shooter and found the apartment open. The search later conducted under a warrant revealed a bullet matching the scene, documents, and amphetamines. Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved his judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Paul Byrne, a southern correspondent for Virgin Media, has taken his employer to the High Court over a disciplinary process he says is flawed. He was suspended after a live report on February 9 about a boy's death in County Waterford, in which he cited a claim that the boy had been drowned and placed in a car. The claim was later found false, but Byrne says he verified it with credible sources and that other outlets had published it. He alleges Virgin Media breached his contractual rights, that the disciplinary hearing was unfair, and that the process could lead to dismissal for gross misconduct. Byrne seeks injunctions to stop the proceedings, to lift his suspension, to have his salary paid and to prevent the appointment of a replacement. Virgin Media rejects the allegations, calling the breach "serious in nature" and stating it will take steps to avoid a repeat.
In 2024, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford for repeatedly raping a girl aged eight to eleven between 2014 and 2017. The offences included eight counts of rape, nine of anal rape, eight of oral rape and nine of sexual assault. The court found him guilty of all but three counts of rape, sentencing him to 13½ years for the vaginal rape, later reduced to 11 years, plus two years of post‑release supervision. He appealed, arguing the judge failed to consider mitigating factors such as his constructive use of prison time, schooling, mental health and drug courses, and his job as a cleaner. He also challenged the trial judge's handling of hearsay, the addition of the victim's mother's complaint evidence, and the lack of a corroboration warning. The Court of Appeal heard the case and noted the judge's decision to reserve all aspects of its ruling. The unnamed 46-year-old was acquitted.
Adam Winters, aged 32, met a 14‑year‑old girl on an online dating site in 2012 and groomed her by sending her brutal and extreme pornography. He instructed her to watch the material and then asked her to carry out acts such as bondage, pain, urination and blood‑letting. The relationship lasted until 2018, during which Winters met her twice in person and forced her to give him oral sex. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually defiling her, one in Cork between April 2013 and April 2014 and another in Waterford. The first count involved a child under 15, the second a child under 17. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to six years for the first count and two years for the second, both to run concurrently, and suspended the final two years, placing him under probation supervision for two years.
A Central Criminal Court jury could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, who was accused of "flooring" 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher in a rural town. The State alleged Boland intended to kill or seriously injure Gallagher, who fell and hit the back of his head after a punch. Both men had been drinking. The prosecution presented CCTV footage of a punch and claimed the victim's hand injuries were caused by the blow. Defence counsel argued that the pathologist's evidence showed the fall, not the punch, caused the fatal injury, and that intent could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. After 13 hours of deliberation over four days, the jury declared disagreement and the case was scheduled for retrial on 25 November. The judge exempted the jury from service for five years. The trial remains at the murder‑versus‑manslaughter stage. Mossie' Boland pleaded not guilty.
The jury of eight men and four women will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to continue deliberations in the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, 36, who denies murdering construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, in Tallow on 10 November 2022. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution has alleged that a punch from Boland caused Gallagher to fall and hit the back of his head, leading to a fatal brain bleed eight days later. The defence has argued that the pathologist's evidence shows the fall, not the punch, caused the damage, and that the phrase "a Conor McGregor knockout" was a drunken, off‑hand remark. The jury has spent more than 11 hours over three days debating the case and has requested additional time to reach a verdict. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been delivered.
In the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, a 36‑year‑old from Waterford, the jury of eight men and four women was given the option of a majority verdict after deliberating for nearly seven hours. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, who died on 10 November 2022 after a fall that caused a traumatic brain injury. The prosecution alleged Boland punched Gallagher, who was drinking, and that the blow caused the fatal fall. The defence argued the fall, not the punch, caused the injury, citing the pathologist's testimony. The jury was instructed that a murder verdict requires proof beyond reasonable doubt of intent to kill or cause serious injury; otherwise a manslaughter verdict is appropriate. Boland claimed he was defending himself and that the incident happened quickly. The case remains at the deliberation stage.
Ger Malone, a former chair of SIPTU's internal staff representative council, has taken the union to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, alleging she was penalised for making 17 protected disclosures. She claims 29 separate acts of penalisation, including letters from management criticising her work, and says the union has denied any wrongdoing. The union acknowledges that three of Malone's communications were protected but rejects the allegations. Malone's case was scheduled to open at Waterford Courthouse, but she requested an extension to consider events before the six‑month statutory limit, which the tribunal has postponed. The hearing was adjourned, with a new date set for late June to resume the proceedings. The dispute also involves the burden of proof and the union's readiness to respond to the earlier disclosures.
In the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, the jury was asked whether the deceased Cian Gallagher's intoxication could legally excuse his inability to break a fall. The judge ruled it was not a defence. The prosecution argued that a punch from Boland caused Gallagher to fall and hit his head, leading to a traumatic brain injury. The defence contended that the fall itself caused the fatal injury, not the punch. The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 53 minutes, considering whether Boland intended to kill or cause serious injury. The judge explained that if intent was proven, the verdict would be murder; otherwise, manslaughter. The case remains at the jury's verdict stage.
Paul Byrne, a veteran Virgin Media broadcaster, has filed High Court proceedings to halt disciplinary action taken by his employer after he was suspended following a live report on February 9th about a young boy's death in County Waterford. Byrne argues the information he presented was believed credible at the time and that the suspension was due to alleged breach of the broadcaster's News Guidelines for not consulting his line manager beforehand. He claims the disciplinary process is flawed, punitive, and breaches his contractual rights, seeking an injunction to stop the proceedings, restore his salary and benefits, lift his suspension, and prevent replacement. Virgin Media denies the allegations, stating the breach was serious and steps were needed to avoid recurrence. Byrne's counsel, Eoin Clifford SC, described the process as "irredeemably flawed" and highlighted that Byrne was not required to discuss the report with the producer. The case is set to return to court next week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution described Maurice "Mossie" Boland (36) as having "targeted" and "relentlessly pursued" Cian Gallagher (26), a Dublin construction worker, before striking him with a punch that the accused claimed was a "Conor McGregor knockout." The State presented CCTV footage showing Boland punching Gallagher while the latter was retreating with his hands up, and a pathologist testified that a fall caused a brain bleed, though deep bruising on Gallagher's right temporalis was linked to the punch. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that Boland's intent to cause serious injury, combined with intoxication, met the legal definition of murder, while the defence contended that the fall, not the punch, caused the fatal injury and that Boland had not targeted Gallagher. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women.
Maurice Boland, 36, of Bridgeview Close, Tallow, Co Waterford, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, a construction worker, who died on 10 November 2022 after a fall on 2 November. Boland told detectives he was defending himself when he struck Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, as shown by CCTV. He claimed he hit Gallagher once, that the man was intoxicated, and that the fall caused a traumatic brain injury leading to death. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Gallagher's blood alcohol level was high and that the injuries were consistent with a fall onto the back of the head. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, aged 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed after an alleged altercation on Barrack Street, Tallow, on 10 November 2022. Boland told arresting gardai that Gallagher had struck him first, that he had "ducked" and then hit Gallagher back, and that Gallagher had made comments about Russians. He described the incident as a "pure accident" and said the fight resembled a "Conor McGregor knockout". Boland's partner, Marian O'Brien, testified that she had left him with their children on 1 November, that he had called her from Lismore saying he was going for drinks, and that she had seen him and Gallagher run out in front of her car. She also said she had taken his mobile phone at the scene to contact his relatives.
Maurice 'Mossy' Boland, 36, of Tallow, Waterford, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Cian Gallagher, 26, a Dublin construction worker, who died from a brain bleed eight days after being punched and knocked to the ground on 2 November 2022. Witness Patrick Fennessy, 17 at the time, described seeing Boland on his feet and Gallagher on the ground outside Clancy's Bar. Fennessy said Boland claimed Gallagher had struck him first and that he was merely defending himself. Boland allegedly boasted that he had knocked Gallagher out "like Conor McGregor" and that Gallagher should have been in the UFC, expressing pride in the act. Boland also told witnesses he did not want an ambulance for Gallagher, insisting he would be fine. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues tomorrow with a jury of eight men and four women.
During a murder trial, a barman testified that on the night of the killing he had conversations with the deceased about Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. The jury heard that the accused, Maurice Boland, 36, had replied to a Garda's caution that he was "onto" the deceased about Russians. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed eight days after being punched by Boland in early November 2022. Prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC described how Boland boasted of knocking Gallagher out and compared himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Witnesses, including the pub owner Ann O'Brien and barmaid Maggie O'Leary, confirmed that the deceased had been drinking and that Boland was highly intoxicated when he entered the pub. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
During the opening of Maurice Boland's trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Boland, 36, admitted to causing the death of construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, but denied murder. CCTV footage showed Boland punching Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, leading to a fall and a brain bleed that caused death eight days later. Boland claimed the incident was a "pure accident" and that Gallagher had tried to hit him first. Witnesses, including three young men and Gardaí, testified about Boland's intoxication, his statements comparing himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor, and his attempts to lift Gallagher after the punch. The prosecution emphasized the focus on Boland's intent that night, distinguishing between murder and manslaughter. The trial is set to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
In a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, the court declared a section of the 2019 Judicial Council Act that allows judges to set personal injury award guidelines unconstitutional, citing conflict with judicial independence. However, the court held that the guidelines adopted in 2021 were independently ratified by the Oireachtas under the 2021 Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act and therefore remain legally enforceable. The decision dismissed most of Bridget Delaney's appeal against the High Court's rejection of her judicial review, while granting her a declaration that the contested Act section is unconstitutional. The court also affirmed that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) acted lawfully in applying the 2021 guidelines to Delaney's claim. Delaney's legal costs were to be paid by Ireland and the Attorney General, with PIAB covering its own costs. The ruling clarified that any future changes to the guidelines would require new legislation by the Oireachtas.
Maurice Boland, 36, of Tallow, Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of mechanic Cian Gallagher, who was killed on Barrack Street in Tallow on 10 November 2022. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case tomorrow, with a jury of four women and eight men sworn in by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor. The trial is expected to last two weeks and will rely solely on the evidence presented in court, with no independent research or social media engagement permitted.
A 73‑year‑old man, whose identity is withheld to protect victims, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to four counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The offences occurred between 2012 and 2019 in County Tipperary, involving two young girls who were cousins of the complainants. The first victim, aged about ten or eleven at the time of the first contact, described a pattern of inappropriate touching, kissing and an attempted rape that ended when she entered secondary school. The second victim, aged about four or five, was raped on three separate occasions, the first when she was five or six. Both girls, now 17 and 16, gave impact statements detailing how the abuse has left them unable to recall happy childhood memories, caused them to feel unsafe, and led to shame, suicidal thoughts and trust issues.
Two Waterford men, Peter Cawley (42) and Richard Nolan (35), appeared before Judge Patricia Ryan in Dublin Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply on 19 March 2020. The court sentenced each to three years imprisonment, but suspended the terms in their entirety, giving them fully suspended sentences. The case stemmed from a mobile patrol that stopped a van on a night patrol; the van was found rocking and smelling of cannabis. Cawley was driving, Nolan was lying in the back and was seen placing something in a bucket. Gardaí seized heroin worth €9,683, cocaine worth €289, cannabis worth €70, tablets worth €80 and a small wrap of cocaine worth €96. Both men were searched; Nolan had drugs in his underwear and cannabis worth €100, while Cawley had no drugs on his person.
A 61-year-old former scout leader has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to three counts of sexual assault committed between 1991 and 2000. The man, whose identity is protected to safeguard victims' anonymity, abused three boys aged between 11 and 14 at a scouting den in Dublin and at locations in Waterford and Monaghan. The abuse included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. Judge Martin Nolan described the defendant's conduct as "very serious" and "very reprehensible," noting he had abused his position of trust and authority over vulnerable, impressionable children and their families. The court imposed three-year sentences on each count, with two to run consecutively. Three victim impact statements were presented, with victims describing long-term psychological harm, damaged trust and ongoing mental health difficulties. The defence highlighted the defendant's guilty plea, work history and psychological assessment indicating low re-offending risk, though the judge found these factors provided only limited mitigation.